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Pratham Books, an NGO, has been engaged in publishing books in multiple Indian languages to promote reading among children. Their mission is to see a book in every child’s hand, one that they have been successfully carrying out over the last 12 years. The Children’s special issue every November has always carried reviews of Pratham titles (available online on the goodbooks and the book review sites). However, the two titles being reviewed here are a bit problematic in more ways than one.

This bilingual text for age 3 , written by Meenu Thomas (author of Fakhruddin’s Fridge, Tulika) in English and Hindi, is about two little boys, as different as chalk and cheese in their likes and what they like to do. But all the same, they are the best of friends. With minimum text but brought alive by exuberant illustrations, a story of universal friendship will be understood by the toddler without any need for explanations.

The moment one thinks of an alphabet book, boring boxes with letters printed in one corner and a garish image of fruit or an animal in the rest, come to the mind. So when gems like The Book of Beasts show up on bookshelves, it is time to rejoice and grab your copy. Children need to be connected with Nature and it is books like these that accomplish the task. Even if you’re old for children’s books, you will surely enjoy it because it is so insightful. The book starts off with the foreword from the author’s granddaughter, who had been given these animal verses as a birthday present by her grandfather.

Who doesn’t love a superhero? Even if he’s one with seven and a half limbs? Rot8 is the resident octopus at Goa Sea World. An accident at birth leaves this cephalopod with half a limb missing. This is soon put to rights by vet Reena Renaldo and the scientist ZubbuZwami.

One for Sorrow sets out to explain the many proverbs and sayings that are a ‘key facet of our conversations.’ The say ings are all, of course, taken from the English language. The book covers everything from the most common sayings like ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’, to the less commonplace such as ‘It is ill prizing of green barley’. Chloe Rhodes is a journalist and this is evidenced in her clear and precise reporting of the etymology, history and reasons behind the usage of the various sayings she has outlined. She references everything from literature to religion and myth conscientiously. However, it is probably this very straightforward way of reporting that consigns this book to being a reference book and not really a book that one would read with avid interest over and over again.

The Lal Badam Tree is a translation of an Urdu story written by Rumana Husain. This level 3 book (for reading independently) from Pratham effortlessly merges the charm of an old world story with the contemporary colours and textures in Ruchi Mhasane’s art. At the heart of the picture book is the Lal Badam Tree that is both a source of endless joy and irritation. It brings joy to Rashida and Anwar—and the parrots that frequent their house—who constantly gorge on the kernels hidden within the seeds.